Researchers Developed Cell-Based IBV Vaccine Method
A new method for producing IBV vaccines in cell culture aims to reduce industry dependence on embryonated hens' eggs.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have demonstrated a new methodology for producing infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccines using cell culture. This research-stage approach seeks to bypass the traditional requirement for embryonated hens' eggs.
Why it matters
The development could accelerate the response to emerging IBV variants by removing the time-consuming and supply-dependent process of egg-based cultivation. This transition promises to strengthen disease control programs across the global poultry industry.
Current methods require 80 passages through embryonated eggs for vaccine production, a bottleneck replaced by using Vero cell lines. The modified virus demonstrated an attenuated phenotype and a more controlled immune response in chicken models.
The players
The Pirbright Institute
A research center focused on the study and control of viral diseases in livestock.
The details
Researchers employed reverse genetics—a process to modify the genetic material of a virus—to swap the spike gene of the pathogenic D388 IBV strain with that of the attenuated Beaudette strain. This hybrid virus was successfully propagated in Vero cell lines, which are cells derived from the kidney of an African green monkey commonly used in vaccine manufacturing. The result is a virus that can stimulate a broader, more controlled innate immune response compared to the original pathogenic strain.
Timeline
- 2026-09-21
The research findings were published in the Journal of Virology.
The Tech Race
This development marks a departure from traditional egg-based vaccine cultivation, which has long been the industry standard. It positions cell-based production as a more agile alternative in the race to manage rapid-onset IBV variants.
This research provides a new methodology for vaccine developers to replace current egg-dependent production workflows. Poultry producers and vaccine manufacturers can expect more controlled production cycles once the method transitions from research to industrial-scale implementation.
The takeaway
The transition to cell-based cultivation marks a potential shift toward faster, more adaptable vaccine manufacturing for the poultry industry. Observers should track subsequent pilot studies to see if the Vero cell-based approach achieves consistent efficacy parity with traditional egg-derived vaccines.
Further reading
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More information
Read the full results in the Journal of Virology research paper.
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Should the poultry industry transition to new lab-grown methods for vaccine production?
